According to the constitution, all the authority is given to the state by the nation. Nonetheless, all under 18-year-olds (about 14 Million citizens) are currently excluded from the voting process. Since April 2004 there has been a cross-party proposal to introduce the voting right from birth, either by lowering the voting age, or by introducing voting by proxy. In the former case, the child should be able to vote from whenever he/she wants to; in the latter case, the parents would be able to vote on behalf of their children whilst they are still underage. In both cases, the previously voiceless fifth of the German population would be included in the voting process. The effects on party policies, education, the family and society would be complex and far-reaching, especially given the current demographic trend towards an ageing society.